Monthly Archives: December 2012

In April 2011, French shoemaker Louboutin alleged that Yves Saint Laurent America Inc. violated its trademark by selling red-soled shoes.

In its Resort 2011 collection, the American branch of YSL featured red suede shoes with matching red soles, alongside purple shoes with purple soles, navy with navy soles and green with green soles, but it was the red soles which sparked the legal action.

A New York judge ruled against Louboutin’s request that Yves Saint Laurent cease selling the red soled shoes in August 2011, however an appeal by Louboutin to the U.S Federal Court of Appeals in September this year ruled that Christian Louboutin could protect its iconic red soled shoes from copycats, except when the shoe itself is red.

A statement released by YSL’s legal representatives today read: “YSL is pleased to see now completely closed this action that had put at risk the ability of fashion designers to trademark color, as well as to now have confirmation from the Court that it is entitled to continue to sell its unique and famous monochromatic red shoes.”

Victoria Beckham will launch an e-commerce website for the first time this spring, which suggests a stand alone store may be a reality in the future.
The website will sell accessories, eye wear, denim and the designer’s Victoria Victoria Beckham line.

“For us, this is the first step toward creating our own store environment,” said Victoria Beckham CEO Zach Duane. “There are obviously already some fantastic digital stores in place, so the bar to entry is very high. But we feel that we’ve learned a lot from the market and that we are bringing our take on what we believe is ultimately all about customer experience.”

With art direction from Jonny Lu and Isaac Lock, the website will feature branded content that users will be able to share using social media channels. A holding page has gone live today on victoriabeckham.com earlier this week, asking shoppers to sign up to a newsletter.

“My new website has been in the making for a very long time,” said Beckham “It was so important that the concept, tone and look of it were true to me and my aesthetic and that the shopping experience was the very best that it could be for my customer. The site will be ever evolving, featuring never-seen-before insights into my world through the medium of film. I’m incredibly excited with what I have created and the unique access to the brand I am now able to offer.”

Romeo Beckham, the 10-year-old son of very famous David and Victoria Beckham, was shot by Mario Testino for Burberry’s spring/summer 2013 ad campaign.

Romeo was handpicked by Burberry chief creative officer Christopher Bailey to star in the brand’s new campaign. He described the 10 year-old as “a joy to work with” and claimed he “really stole the show.” and the advert was shot by renowned fashion photographer Mario Testino and also features Edie Campbell and Charlie France.

“We had such fun shooting the campaign and I think that comes through in the images which really reflect the upbeat spirit of the collection” says Bailey.

No Doubt, The Southern California-based group have worked on “a collection of classic Fred Perry styles, referencing their ska and reggae roots and tapping into Fred Perry’s relationship with subculture,” according to WWD.

“Fred Perry is a classic inspiration that has been part of our style since the beginning. Doing this collaboration is an honour” said Stefani, who already has her own fashion label, L.A.M.B.

The range will debut in the US in January 2013 and launch in the UK in spring, with highlights including slim-fitting shirts for both sexes, Fifties-style bomber jackets and a punk-inspired tartan-check V-neck sweater.

Every December Pantone announces their forecast for the following year and this year Pantone 17-5641 Emerald has been chosen and is described as ‘a lively, radiant, lush, vivid, verdant green’ which ‘enhances our sense of well-being further by inspiring insight, as well as promoting balance and harmony’.

The brand said: ‘Most often associated with brilliant, precious gemstones, the perception of Emerald is sophisticated and luxurious.

‘Since antiquity, this luminous, magnificent hue has been the color of beauty and new life in many cultures and religions. It’s also the color of growth, renewal and prosperity – no other color conveys regeneration more than green. For centuries, many countries have chosen green to represent healing and unity.’

Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, said: ‘Green is the most abundant hue in nature – the human eye sees more green than any other color in the spectrum.

‘As it has throughout history, multifaceted Emerald continues to sparkle and fascinate. Symbolically, Emerald brings a sense of clarity, renewal and rejuvenation, which is so important in today’s complex world. This powerful and universally appealing tone translates easily to both fashion and home interiors.’

Emerald featured in Pantone’s last Colour Report, and was also incorporated into the Spring/Summer 2013 collections of many designers, and has also recently been spotted on Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton.

To arrive at their selection for Colour Of The Year, Pantone ‘combs the world looking for color influences’. This can include the films that are in production, traveling art collections, hot new artists, popular travel destinations, technology, new textures and sports events.

Simone Rocha and J.W. Anderson will both receive financial aid towards their autumn/winter 2013 catwalk shows, courtesy of the Topshop-sponsored NEWGEN scheme. The financial aid will be used towards their show costs and the use the British Fashion Council’s Show Space to present their autumn/winter 2013-14 collections during London Fashion Week in February next year.

Simone Rocha Fall 2012

JW ANderson 2012

NEWGEN was established by the British Fashion Council in 1993 as a fashion talent identification, designer development and showcasing scheme and previous winners of the sponsorship include Christopher Kane, Erdem and Peter Pilotto.

“The NEWGEN bar is set so high: to qualify, designers must prove their originality, excellence and openness to learning how to take first steps in businesses,” said Sarah Mower MBE, BFC Ambassador for Emerging Talent and chair of the NEWGEN selection committee. “This season’s winners are a snapshot of what London is now – a varied group of vivid individualists, from many countries. They’re a brilliant reflection of the energy of a city which enables so many talents to settle and shine.”